Department of Surgery - UNC School of Medicine
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Department News
Neurosurgery Residency Program to Expand and Restructure
January 26, 2010 -- The Neurosurgery Residency Review Committee (RRC) approved the expansion of UNC Neurosurgery Resident Complements to two residents per year. The change is effective starting this year; therefore, Neurosurgery will accept two residents from the 2010 resident applicants. In addition, the division will also shorten its residency program from 7 years to 6 years with a total of 12 residents.
In response to the recent changes in the division, the Neurosurgery Program Director, Dr. Eldad Hadar says, "While we still have a lot of work ahead of us, I'm convinced that this change, combined with our new departmental status, will provide us with the flexibility and resources to significantly improve the quality of neurosurgical training at UNC."
Dhemer Appointed as Editor of Resident and Associate Fellows Webpage
January 26, 2010 -- Jeff Dhemer, General Surgery Resident at UNC, was recently appointed to a 5 year position as the editor of Resident and Associate Fellows web page. Dr. Dhemer will be in charge of editing and updating the Resident and Associate Fellows web pages, housed under the American College of Surgeon website.
In November 2009, Dr. Dhemer was also appointed to the Administration Board of Organization of Resident Representatives (ORR). The ORR was established in 1991 as a venue to represent resident voice and input for the development of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) policies. ORR members are appointed for a two year term by AAMC's Council of Academic Society member representing either department chairs or program directors. The ORR consists of approximately 40 resident members who report on issues pertinent to residents. The Administration Board of ORR consists of six members at large who, with the president, lead and organize academic meetings of ORR.
John B. Graham Student Research Day Winners
January 27, 2010 -- The John B. Graham Medical Student Research Society hosted the 42nd Annual Student Research Day on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. The event started with a keynote address by Dr. Edward Benz, President and CEO of the Dana Farber Cancer Center. Following the keynote address, 67 medical students presented their research projects focused on one of three categories: Basic Science, Public Health, and Clinical Science. The Society honored the best oral presentation and the best poster presentation with the Harold C. Pillsbury Award for First Place in each of the respective categories. The 2010 First Place Awards for the best oral and poster presentation for the Basic Science category were presented to Matt Skancke and Gita Madan, respectively. Cont'd
Tesche Presents at Annual STS Meeting
January 26, 2010 -- Dr. Leora Tesche, a 4th year General Surgery resident at UNC, presented at the 46th annual meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Her presentation, Simulator Experience Enhances Medical Students' Interest in Cardiothoracic Surgery, was part of the General Scientific Session conducted on Tuesday, Jan. 26th.
UNC Burn Center Provides Care for Haiti Victims
January 25, 2010 -- When the earthquake hit Haiti on January 12th, it shattered the capital city, Port-au-Prince and caused devastating injuries to millions. Many of the victims are still struggling to find medical care. Among them were the three patients who were flown into RDU on January 26 to receive expert medical care at the N.C. Jaycee Burn Center at UNC, one of the best and largest burn centers in the southeast U.S. The burn patients have suffered severe burns from oil, gasoline, and chemicals on 25%-40% of their bodies and their conditions are further complicated due to the two-week delay in proper medical care. Despite the complications, the burn center staff has promptly begun treatment, with one of the patients scheduled to undergo surgery today. Read more
Gerber Appointed to Health & Human Services Advisory Committee
January 22, 2010 -- Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has appointed David A. Gerber, MD, to the Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation in the Health Resources and Services Administration. According to its charter, the Committee is charged with the task of assisting the HHS in its oversight of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, the "equitable and effective organ donation, procurement, allocation, and transplantation system" enacted in the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984.
Dr. Gerber is Chief of UNC's Division of Abdominal Transplant in the Department of Surgery. He joined the Department in 1998 following fellowships in Clinical Transplant, at the Starzl Transplantation Institute of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Pediatric Transplantation, at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He performed his General Surgery residency training at Emory University and received his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2008, Dr. Gerber had the honor of serving as the James IV Traveling Fellow.
Other notable achievements include his role as Fundraising Committee Chair of the SECU Family House of UNC Hospitals, where he continues to serve on the Board of Directors; recognition in Castle Connelly’s Best Doctors in America; and Associate Fellow in the Academy of Educators in the UNC School of Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Gerber is a Lt. Colonel in the United States Air Forces Reserves.
Dr. Gerber's term on the Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation commenced January 7, 2010 and ends July 26, 2013.
News Story Features Egan's Transplant Research
January 18, 2009 -- Thomas M. Egan, M.D., of the UNC Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery is featured as the "Tar Heel of the Week" in a News & Observer story about Dr. Egan and his pioneering lung transplant research, which would make more donor lungs usable for transplant by treating the lungs ex-vivo (outside the body) to improve their health before transplant. Read the article here.
By MARGARET ALFORD CLOUD, UNC Cardiothoracic Surgery
ISCU Relocates to 6PST
January 12, 2010 -- Effective Tuesday, Jan. 12, the N.C. Memorial Hospital is relocating the Intermediate Surgical Care Unit (ISCU) to 6PST and expanding from 8 to 18 monitored intermediate surgical beds. ISCU will continue to admit patients from all surgery services in accordance with the current admission guidelines/policies. Please note, the main phone number is 843-0727, the fax line is 966-3410, and the tube station is 601. With this expansion, overall hospital licensed beds increase from 768 to 778.
Inpatient Hospital Service Changes-- GI Surgery
Effective Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the request of Dr. Anthony Meyer on behalf of Drs. Mark Koruda and Tim Farrell, ISD is modifying inpatient hospital services to differentiate between upper and lower GI surgery. Specific Changes
Department of Neurosurgery Endorsed by SOM Faculty
Please read the following letter from Drs. William Roper and Etta Pisano:
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to inform you that the proposal to amend the School of Medicine's constitution and establish a Department of Neurosurgery has been strongly endorsed by the faculty. The amendment to the constitution will be made, and the Department of Neurosurgery will become a reality on July 1, 2010. Read the entire letter.